The process illustrates data about the Hawaiian island chain in the center of the Pacific ocean. Overall, the process involves the gradual movement of the Pacific plate over a fixed hot spot, resulting in a chain of islands where the oldest volcano is approximately 80 million years old and the youngest is still actively forming.
The process begins deep beneath the Earth’s surface, approximately 2.883 kilometers down, where a hot spot spume remains static. This spume generates magma that rises towards the surface. Subsequently, youngest volcano develops, built up by numerous eruptions.
Simultaneously, the he Pacific tectonic plate progresses in a northwesterly direction at a consistent rate of 7 to 9 centimeters per annum. Consequently, the newly formed island is carried away from the hot spot, cutting off its magma supply and rendering the volcano inactive. Over the course of millions of years, the process produces islands of increasing age, with the most ancient volcano dating back approximately 80 million years. The principal islands – namely Oahu, Maui and Hawaii, exemplify the various stages of this geological progression.